Method and apparatus for making glassware



DeC. 20, 4 BANNER 1,891,371

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASSWARE Griginal Filed July 14. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet l Fl he 10 F 37 39 110 Dec. 20, 1932. E, BANNER 1,891,371

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASSWARE Original Filed July 14, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR EDWARD DAnnER.

Dec. 20, NE

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASSWARE Original FiledJuly 14, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE NTELR Emma DBPIHBR 1T:l au a/e60 61 HIV (1 Dec. 20, 1932. E. I DANNER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASSWARE 6 Sheets-Sheet. 4

Original Filed July 14. 1920 INVENTUR Emma) Damn.

Dec. 20, E932. BANNER 1,891,371

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASSWARE Original Filed'July 14, 1920- 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 f 5 5a I1 [1. & .Y 89 A1 33 T1 q I I l L t 3- I 9s JINYEINTELPl M88 EDWARD DBNHER- Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STAT S EDWARD BANNER, OF NEWARK, OHIO METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IVLAKING GLASSWABE Continuation of original application filed April 2,

1919, Serial 110. 286,833. Renewed July 14, 1920,

Serial No. 396,339. Again renewed July 5, 1922, Serial No.'-572,959, now Patent No. 1,555,358, dated September 29, 1925. Divided and this application filed June 28, 1324. Serial No. 722,899.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for making sheet glass and is a division of my prior application for method and apparatus for making sheet glass, Serial No. 572,959, filed July 5th, 1922, as a renewal of application Serial No. 396,339 filed July 14, 1920- Letters Patent No. 1,555,358, dated September 29, 1925, has issued on said appllthe preferred form of this application, but

many of the features are not confined to the particular form in that figure;

Application Serial No. 396,339 was-a continuation of application No. 286,833, filed 7 April 2, 1919, so far as the subject matter of said Figure 3 is concerned. x

In the accompanying drawings, F g. 1 is a front elevation of a furnace embodying what I now consider the preferred form of apparatus for practicing the invention, with parts thereof broken away; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a central, vertical longitudinal section thereof Fig. 3a is a rear view of the slab 1n Fig.3 Fig. 4 15 a cross-section on theline 4 in Fig. 3; Figs- 5 and 6 are side edge and front elevations, respectively, of different modified forms of slabs for use in the furnace; Fig. 7 is a side edge elevation of the slab shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail of a modified form of the slab and slab enclosing chamber of the furnace; Fig. 8a is a fragmentary section on the line 8a8a in Fig. 8 ;Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section thereof on the line 99 in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a top plan viewof the slab shown in Fig. 9 Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional detail of modified form of the furnace and slab; Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a modification of the slab in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional detail of a different modification of the furnace and slab; Figs. 14 and 15 are cross and longitudinal fragmentary sectional details of still another modification of the furnace and slab; Figs. 16

and 17 are plan and front edge views. respectively, of the slab shown in Figs. 14 and'1'5; Figs. 18 to 31 are fragmentary sectional views of slabs equipped with different forms of tips.

Referring tothe form of apparatus illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 to 4, 1 designates the melting furnace or tank, 2 the refining or main tempering chamber, the bottom of which forms a trough 3, over which molten glass flows from the melting or refining chamher to the heated drawing chamber 1, where it flows'onto or over a slab or member 5, from which the glass is drawn in properly regulated sheet form. cation Serial No. 572,959, and Fig. 3 thereof is The tempering chamber 2 is preferably provided near its rear end with a gate 6, which is suitably suspended to enable it to be raised or lowered as desired.- This gate maybe used as a curtain-Wall to separate two different temperatures in the furnace and the refining chamber, or it can be raised to equalize the temperatures therein, orit can be adjustedto regulatev the temperatures of 'thefurnace and chamber in proper relation to each other, or it can be used as a shut-01f gate to stop the flow of glass from the tank when the drawing is stopped orywhen it is necessary to replace the removable front sec tion 36;, of the trough 3, as hereinafter described. a V

A gate 7 is suspended in the front end portion of the refining chamber 2, to separate it from the drawing chamber" 4;, and to coact with the trough 3, to regulatethe flow of glass onto or over the slab 5. It is preferable to'provide the opening 8, in the roof of the furnace, and through which the gate 7 is suspended, with a clearance space, which is regulated by loose brick or other suitable closure members 9, on top of roof. This clearance space enables the gate 7 to be laterally adjusted relative to the furnace to take care of 7 any irregularities which may occur in the replacement location of the trough section 3a itself. The gate 7 at its lower end enters between guide strips 10 on the trough sides. The openings l1 in the furnace roof form vents for the chambers 2 and 4, and may be regulated by blocks (not shown) or in any other suitable manner to assist in regulating the temperature within said chambers. The removable trough section 3a, is supported in heat surrounded position within the furnace by front and rear supporting walls 12 and 13,. respectively, which cooperate with the furnace walls to form a heating chamber 14, beneath the trough section, said chamber being intended to have communica- 1 vided in one or both of its side walls, which openings are closed by bricks 17 or other suitable refractory material.

. tween the gate 7 and side walls of the furnace The spaces beat the front end of the tempering chamber 2 are closed by slabs or blocks 18 (Fig. f)

The slab 5, onto which the glass flows from the trough 3 and from the outer or lower edge of which it is drawn in sheet form,

is disposed, in the present instance, in substantially vertical or slightly inclined position within the chamber 4 beneath the discharge end of the trough 3, and is supported in proper relation to said trough by vertically adjustable side standards 19. These standards are mounted for vertical adjustment in recesses 20, provided in the respective side walls of the furnace and their upper ends are preferably projected inward to form broadened ledges on which the lower ends of side extensions 21, at the upper end portions of the slab 5, seat.

The trough section 3a is provided atits discharge end with a downwardly extending lip 22, which projects down into a sheetwidth-gauge recess formed in the upper end of the slab between side flanges or gauge shoulders 23 on the side edge portions of the slab. The glass from the trough 3 flows in sheetform beneath gate 7, over the front end 7 r of slab 3a and down onto the upper end of the slab 5, which, in the present instance, is

flattened for such purpose, and the sheet then dlvides and a portion flows over and down 7 the front face of the slab and a portion flows through the space provided between the lip 22 and slab end and thence down the rear side of the slab. The two streams or films which flow down opposite sides of the slab and merge or unite at the tip or discharge end of the slab are drawn therefrom in the form of a single sheet a. It is preferable to have the film of glass, which flows down the rear or underside of the slab, thinner than the film flowing down the front, and the thickness of the rear film is regulated by a vertical adjustment of the slab to vary the width of the gauging space between the lip 22 and upper end of the slab. This adjustment is accomplished by a raising or lowering of the I slab supporting standards 19, which is effected by aturning of the adjusting screws 24, which project up througha bottom plate 25 of each recess 20 and bear against the lower end of the respective standard. The glass which does not flow through the slab to form the rear sheet accumulates until it flows over the front of the slab in a film thick enough to prevent further accumulation. While it might be possible to so shape the receiving end of the slab as to properly gauge the relative thickness of the films without the gauging slab, I prefer the structure shown.

The slab 5 preferably narrows in thickness toward its lower end to terminate in a more or less sharp nose or discharging tip portion and, in the present instance, its nose or tip portion is curved slightly forward in the direction of drawing of the sheet therefrom.

The edge walls or shoulders 23, which .de-

termine the width of the sheet drawn, are extended down the face or front side of the slab to its discharge end, and the width of the filmwhich traverses the rear side of the slab is determined by grooves 23, which extend throughout the length of the rear side of the slab and are in register with the wall formed by the shoulders 23 (see Fig. 3a).

The slab 5 may be made in numerous forms, two of which are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 In Fig. 5 the lower end of the slab is continued straight with its major portion, in-

stead of being forwardly curved, and in Figs;

6 and 7, width gauging grooves or recesses 26 are substituted at the upper end and front side of the slab for the shoulders 23. The forward ends of the gauge grooves 26 on the front of the slab and the gauge grooves 27 on the rear thereof: terminate short ofthe discharge end of the slab and'merge into laterally tapered edge portions 28, whereby the film edges at the front and rear sides of the slab may" flow laterally over the inclines formed by the tapered portions 28 and merge at ,theside edges of the slab before reaching the discharge end thereof. To fitcilitate this action the width of the slab is gradually narrowed at its forward end por-' tion as shown.

The front edge of the drawing chamber 4 is provided with an opening 29, which preferably extends from a point in advance of the trough 3, or the upper end portion of the slab 5, to the lower end of the chamber, and in width is substantially equal to the width of the slab. The upper portion of this opening is closed by a gate 30, which is capable of both vertical and swinging adjustment to place it in proper relation to the slab 5 to regulate the space between the lower end portions of the slab and gate as working conditions or temperature regulation within the chamber 4 may require.

A. gate carrier frame 31 of inverted U form is pivoted at the lower ends of its legs, at 32 to the front corner uprights 33 of the furnace. adjacent to the top of the opening 29 to adapt the frame for forward and rearward swinging movements relative to the furnace. The gate 30 is suspended from the frame 31 by threaded rods 34 which project. up'through the top cross portion of the frame and through nuts 35- resting thereon whereby a turning of said nuts will effect a vertical adjustment of the gate. The gate is slidingly held tothe upper marginal edge wall of the, opening 29 by a guide roller 36 carried by the side arms of the frame 31 at their lower ends in advance of the pivots 32 thereof. It is thus evident that a swinging adjustment of the gate is efiected by a swinging adjustment of the frame 31. A cable 37 extends rearward from the cross member of the frame 31 over a sheave '38 on the front top edge of the fur nace, thence around a sheave 39 to one side of the furnace where it passes over and down from a sheave 40 to a threaded adjusting rod 41, which is threaded through a hand nut 42, the upper end thrust of which against a bracket arm 43 projecting from the adjacent side arm of the frame 31.

For convenience of adj usfment, the adj neting nuts for the gate suspending rods 34 have sprocket wheels formed thereon which are connected by a sprocket chain 44, and one of these nuts has a second sprocket wheel provided thereon that is connected by a 130 sprocket chain 45 to a sprocket wheel on the hand control shaft 46 that is journaled in bracket arms'47 projecting from the adj aeent side arm of the frame 31. The adjustment and control forthe gate 7 is similar to that described for the gate 30, as shown in Figs.

1 to 4, the hand control shaft for such ad justing means being designated 48.

A gate or damper member 49 is mounted in the lower portion of the front opening 29 be- .40 low the discharge end of the slab 5 in desired spaced relation thereto. This gate, in the present instance, rises from the bottom of the chamber 4, preferably in rearwardly spaced relation to the front edges of the side walls 45 of said chamber, and has its lower edge transversely rounded to adapt it to seat in a complemental recess in the chamber bottom in a manner to permit the gate to have forward or rearward swinging adjustment.

The chamber 4 may be heated by subj acent burners 50 in addition to the heat which enters the same from the chambers 2 and 14 by radiation through the dividing walls or through cracks or loose joints which may be present between the chambers. The chamber 4 is also heated by flames from front burners 51 and 52, which are respectively disposed above and below the drawn sheet a in position to direct their flames thereagainst and into the chamber 4 through the spaces between the slab and the adjacent edges of the gates 30 and 49. The flames from these burners follow the respective surfaces of the slab for a greater or less distance and serve to firefinish and to maintain at proper consistency the films of glass flowing down the respective sides ofthe slab; The upper burner 51 is adjustably carried by arms 53 which are longitudinally slotted toadjustably engage with carrying screws or clamping members 54 on the adjacent corner uprights 33 of the furnace. The lower burner 52 rests on'brackets 55, which are secured for vertical adjustment to the respective corner uprights 33 and project into the opening 29 in advance of the gate 49. a

56, 56 designate peep openings provided in one or both side walls of the chamber 4 in positionto view the glass at the upper portion of the'slab as it flows down both sides thereof.

In the forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9,11, 14 and 15, the furnace,-with respect to the chamber in which the slab is dis posed, is of the muffle type, the slab being heated by radiant heat through thin walls except for the flames from the front tire finishing burners. Referring particularly to Figs. 14 and 15, 60 designates the trough over which the molten glass flows from the furnace or source of supply to the drawing chamber, 61 the front supporting wall or standard for said trough, 62 the regulating gate at the front end of the trough, 63 the muffled drawing chamber, and 64the slab disposed in said chamber and onto and over which the glass from the trough 60 flows and from which it is drawn in sheet form. The slab 64 is sup ported in downwardly and forwardly inclining position by front and rear blocks or standards 65 and 66, respectively, which are in turn supported by a thin slab 67 forming the roof of the heating chamber 68. This chamber is heated by burners 69, or in any other suitable manner, andhas its rear wall formed by the wall 61 and its front wall formed by the block or wall 70 which supports the forwardend of the roof slab 67. The rear end of said roof slab rests on blocks or forward projections 71 on the wall 61. The rear end portion of the slab 64 projects under the forward end of the trough, 60 and is curved to .adapt it to seat or hook over the upper edge of theblock 66. The front end of the slab 64 is provided at its under side at a distance to- 65 to support the sheet gauging slab 64, provide for the passage'of hot air lengthwise of the under side of the slab 64,.either forwardly or rearwardly thereof in accordance with the draft.

The mufiied drawing chamber 63 in which of the .slab 67 and extend upward therefrom the slab 64 is disposed has its ends formed by upright slabs 73, which rise from the ends above the slab 64 in spaced relation to its ends and also in spaced relation to the side walls 74 of the furnace. The end. slabs 7 3 are preferably extended forward to the forward edge of the front opening 75 of the furnace. The. top of the muffle chamber 63 is closed in adeach end slab 73 in position to engage the v portion 64a, which projects from the slab 64 front sideof the slab 66. It is evident that the heat in the chamber-68 entirely encompasses the muffle chamber in which is disposed the inclined slab 64 from which the sheet a is drawn.

The slab 64 is provided in advance of the front supporting slab 65 with a tip or nose in substantially the plane 1 thereof and is slightly spaced therefrom to form the narrow dividing slot 646 through which passes a thin film of the glass sheet which flows over the slab 64. This film follows the bottom contour of the tip and then merges with and formsthe under fire finishedsurface of the 'These bands may also serve as guide strips d the bottom of the trough 3".

sheet a flowing from the slab. The tip 64a maybe of metal, and in the present instance, is supported and held in properly spaced relation to the'slab 64 by bands or straps 78 of metal, which extend around the respective end portions of the slab and tip, as shown.

for the width of the sheet flowing over an from the slab and'are adjustable transversely of the slab to vary the width of thesheet.

The inner corners of the slab around which the bands 7 8 pass, may be; notched or incut, as at 79, so that the bands will not extend to the rear support 66.

The portion of the front furnace openings '75 above the nose of the slab 64 may be closed or controlled by a gate 80, which, in

mounting and action, is like the gate 30 of the apparatus first described. Burners 81 and 82 are mounted above and below the drawn sheet a and may be the same in action, elfect and mounting as the corresponding burners of the apparatus first described.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 11, the arrangement and manner of heating the slabs from which the glass is drawn is the same as described. in connection with Figs. 14 and 15, except that the slabs are mounted somewhat differently and the glass divides into separate films at' the upper or inner ends thereof so, that the under film flows the entire length of the under or rear sideof the slab instead'of merely under the nose or tip portion thereof.

In Figs. 8 and 9 the muffle chamber, which is designated 85, and in which is disposed the slab 86 from which the glass sheet is drawn, has its bottom ends and top walls formed by the slabs 87, 88 and 89, respectively, in sub stantially the same manner as described for Figs. 14 and 15, and the upper portion of the front opening 90 of said chamber is closed by the adjustable gate 91, the same as here inbefore described. The rear wall of the mufile chamber is formed by the upright slab 92, which is provided on its front side with a hooked or upwardly and forwardly rounded portion'93 forming a trough or recess 94. The member or inner end portion of the drawing slab 86 is provided in its under side with a recess, which is adapted to hook over the portion 98 in slightly spaced rela tion thereto to provide a thin passage therebetween for a film of glass flowing from the trough 94 down the under side of the slab 86, as shown. For this purpose the glass stream flowing from the supply trough 3 is" deposited in the trough or recess 94 and flows forward therefrom down both the upper and under sides of the slab 86. The rear recessed end of the slab 86 which engages over the front edge wall 93 of the trough 94 and is properly spaced therefrom to regulate the thickness of the glass film passing therebetween under the slabby a plurality of spacing members 95, which may comprise narrow metal strips bent to removably fit over the" wall or projection 93. The ends of the trough 94 are closed by end walls 93a, which are integral with the rear slab 92 and rise from the end portions of the projection 93 to the top of the slab 92 to fit at their upper endsagainst' The rear cor- 11ers of the slab 86 are notched or incut to fit around the end walls 93a of the trough 94.

The sides of the slab 86 are provided on the top side edges thereof with ledges or" ribs 96 the inner side edges of which are under-cut to receive the outer edges of gauge strips 97 removably positioned therein, and which have upstanding lugs 98 at their upper or inner ends for engaging the inner ends of the ledges 96 to hold the strips in position. These strips may have their inner sides tapered so as to cooperate to gradually narrow the space therebetween from the inner to the outer end of the slab 86 to cause a slight thickening of the edge portions of he sheet flowing down the slab. For adjustment the strips 97 may be removed and other strips of suitable width and shape substituted therefor. The slab 86 is supported in advance of the slab 92 at its side edges by slabs or blocks 99, which rest at their lower edges on the bottom slab 87 of the .mufile chamber.

A damper or gate 100 is supported by the tsetse":

forward edge portion of the bottom slab 87" jacent to the bottom of the slab 86. Burners 101 and 102 are preferably disposed above and below the sheet a in position to direct their flames against the sheet adjacent toits point of leaving the slab 86 to fire finish the surfaces of the upper and lower films which pass down the slab and to assist in regulating the temperature of the glass.

The apparatus which is fragn'ientarily illustrated in F lg 11, differs primarily from that of Figs. 8 and 9 in that the glass stream from the supply trough 103 flows onto the rear end of the slab, which is designated 104, and thence divides so that the major portion flows down the top surface of the slab while the remaining portion constitutes a thin film that flows around the rear edge of the slab and thence down the under side thereof, being regulated in thickness by the spacing between the slab and a lip 105 on the lower edge of the discharge end of the trough, the apparatus being similar in this respect to that illustrated in Fig. 3. The slab 104 is provided on its top surface at its side edges with gauge shoulders 106 which extend from the forward-end of the slab to and partly around the rear curved end thereof, as shown. In

this slab the discharge end thereof continues straight in the general plane of extension of the slab, while in Fig. 12 the same construction of slab is illustrated as having its discharge end curved downwardly.

In Figs. 18 to 31 are illustrated various forms of discharge ends for the slabs from which the sheet is drawn, some of the slabs being inclined and others being horizontally disposed. These tips are of various constructions and may be of metal or other suitable material, and so disposed with respect to the slab proper as to cause a divislon of the stream of glass flowing down the slab so that a portion thereof flows over or at the front side of the tip and a portion thereof, preferably a film which is relatively thinner than the front or top stream, flows under or down the rear side of the tip to the point where the two films or streamsare permitted ignates a tip portion of cylindrical form around which the glass flows, and 111 designates a width gauging finger one of which is fixed to each end of the tip and 1s rotatabl y adjusted thereon to cause it to project from of the sheet therefrom.

the tip in the general direction of drawing In the form shown in Fig. 26, the tip is in tegral with the slab and the slab is provided adjacent to its forward or drawing-offend "with a. plurality of openings 1:12,- which permit a portion of the glass which flows down the slab to pass therethrough and flow in film form down the under side of the'slab.

In each of Figs. 29, and 31, the slab from which the sheet of glass is drawn is shown as being horizontally disposed, and in the first two of these figures the slab is provided with a tip portion which permits the sheet to flow in double film form down the same preparatory to being drawn therefrom. InFig. 31 the tip, which is designated 113, is disposed slightly in advance of the slab with its top surface on a plane with: the surface of the slab and with-its bottomsurface preferably downwardly inclined, the forward end of the tip, in the present instance, being of greater vertical thickness than its rear end. The films of glass which pass around the tip merge at the lower front edge thereof and are drawn therefrom in single sheet form as indicated. The tips, if made of metal or made separate from the slabs, may be secured thereto by bands, as shown in Fig. 16, or in any other suitable manner.

In the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 13,115 designates the refining or tempering chamber to which the glass is supplied in molten form in any suitable manner, as by being connected with a melting tank, and this chamber is provided in its bottom 116 at the forward end thereof with a discharge opening 117, which is partially blocked or closed by the upper end of'a slab 118, which slab forms the member down which the glass flows in thin film form and from the discharge end of which it is drawn or flows in the form of:

a sheet a. The discharge opening 117 is of suitable length to conform to the width of the sheet or stream which itis desired to flow from the chamber and its front and rear walls are preferably tapered so that the width of the opening is gradually increased downwardly from its upperedge. The up per end of the slab 118 is made of substantially the same tapered contour as the discharge opening 117 so that it may serve to entirely close said opening, or, when lowered from its closed position, to provide thin discharge spaces for the glass at front and rear of the slab, and also at the end edges if de sired, the size of such spaces being determined by the extent of lowering of the slab relative to the chamber bottom. The slab 118 is supported at its opposite ends by vertlcally adjustable standards 119 in the same manner as described in connection with the V supporting means of the slab in Fig. The drawing-chamber 120, in which the slab 118 is disposed,'is substantially the same as the chamberl: in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3,.being heated in substantially the same way and. having substantially the same adjustable front gates 1 21 and 122. Fire finishingburners 123 and 124 are also provided rection, by any suitable means, drawing and conveying rollers 125 being indicated diagrammatically on Fig. 3.

The sheet curves outward towards the drawing means more or less sharply as the drawing stress is increased or diminished,

and the end of the directing slab is prefer ably curved so that the sheet leaves the slab in substantially the path which it naturally follows toward the drawing rollers, and both films flow from the slab in gradual curves and neither of them is drawn across the end of the slab. The speed of the rollers governed so that an extension of the curved lines which the sheet follows, would lie between the films as they approach the line of merger, as shown in Figs. 12, 13, 19,

and 31. V

The glass may be so hot when it leaves the slab that it will flow down vertically for a distance, and may need support along the line of its curvature from vertical to horizontal, and many of the features shown herein may be used without curving the bottom of the slab towards the horizontal. In fact, the glass may leave the end of an inclined slab in a direction more nearly vertical than the body of the slab, as shown in a marked degree in Fig. 12. Under such circum- -stances. it is advantageous to have the end of the slab curved towards the vertical, as shown in that figure. In the above description the term drawn is intended to cover the movement of the glass from the .slab whether such movement is by gravity only or is hastened by the pull of the carrying-off rollers.

While a number of possible modifications have been indicated, no attempt has been made to show all possible forms, and further modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

That I claim is:

1. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a sheet of molten glass with one face in contact with a directing surface and the other face exposed to gases only, dividing the flowing sheet into two films, and flowing the films to a point of merger with their inner faces in contact with directing surfaces and their outer faces in contact with gases.

2. The process of forming glassware, which consists in flowing a stream from a source of molten glass, intercepting the stream to form an accumulation, flowing the glass from the accumulation in first diverging and then converging directions to form ware, and contacting the glass which forms the exterior of the ware by gases only after it leaves the ac cumulation until the ware is formed.

3. The process of forming sheet glass,

which consists in flowing a stream from a supply of molten glass, downwardly with one face contacting gases only, intercepting the stream by a surface approximately normal to the line of flow, flowing the glass laterally in two films from the point of interception down directing surfaces contacting the inner faces of the films and uniting the inner faces of the filmsto form a sheet.

4. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a stream from a supply of molten glass, intercepting the stream and producing an accumulation of molten glass, flowing glass laterally from the accumulation and down directing surfaces which contact the inner faces of the films, and uniting the inner faces of the films to form a sheet.

5. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a stream from a supply of molten glass, intercepting the stream so that it forms an accumulation, flowing glass from the accumulation in two films, flowing the films with their inner faces in contact with directing surfaces and their, outer faces exposed to gases, and finally uniting the inner faces of the films.

6. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a stream of molten glass over a directing-surface with the outer surface of the stream exposed to heated gases, intercepting the stream and forming an accumulation of molten glass, flowing glass from the accumulation in opposite directions and in film form, and flowing the films down converging surfaces until they unite and form a sheet, one surface of the sheet forming a 1 continuation of a surface of one of the films anfl of the flowing stream contacted by gases on y.

7 The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a film of molten glass over and from the lower end of a sloping surface, and flowing a thinner film into merging union with the surface of first film as said surface of the first film leaves said sloping surface.

8. The process of formin sheet glass, which consists in flowing a film of molten glass over and from a sloping surface, flowing a thinner film down the under side of a sloping surface, and uniting the sides of the films contracted by said surfaces.

9. The process of forming sheet glass,- which consists in flowing a stream of molten glass over a directing surface with the outer surface of the stream exposed to heated gases, intercepting the stream and forming an accumulation of molten glass, flowing glass from the accumulation in opposite directions and verging surfaces until they unite and form a sheet, one surface of the sheet forming a continuation of a surface of one of the films of the flowing stream contacted by gases only,

and contacting the upper side of the first said film and the lower side ofthe second said film with heated gases.

10. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a film of molten glass over and from a sloping surface, flowing a thinner film of glass through a thicknesscontrolling slot and down a directing surface and against the under side of the first said film as it leaves said sloping surface.

11. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a film of glass over and from a surface which directs the film in a direction curving towards the horizontal and drawing the sheet away from the surface in a substantially horizontal direction at such a height and speed that the curve'of the sheet after leaving said surface forms substantially a'continuation of the curve of the directing surface.

12. The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a plurality of films of molten glass over downwardly converging surfaces and merging them into a single sheet andcarrying the sheet away substantially horizontally at such a speed that acontinuation of the curve the soft sheet assumes between the line of merger of the films and the line of contact with the carrying means would be between the films as they approach the line of merger.

13/ The process of forming sheet glass, which consists in flowing a film of glass over and from a curved surface, flowing another film into contact with the first film as it leaves said surface, drawing away the united films in sheetform and controlling the speed of the draw so that the curve of the sheet forms substantially a continuation of said curved surface.

14. In apparatus for forming glassware, means to form a stream of molten glass and means to intercept the stream to form an accumulation of molten glass, the intercepting means being constructed so that glass flows in diverging directions from said accumula-- means in converging directions to form ware,

and means to heat the exterior of the glass as it flows in converging directions.

16. Glass drawing apparatus comprising a member having downwardly converging side port-ions, said member being adapted to re- 1 ceive molten glass from a supply on its upper a forming means having an upper surface in position to'intercept the stream and produce an accumulation of molten glass and having downwardly converging side surfaces over which films of may flow.

19. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a directing slab, means to flow a stream of glass over the slab, a directing means having an 7 upper end in position to intercept the stream and produce an accumulation and having downwardly converging faces over which films of glass may flow from the accumulation to a merging line where they form a. sheet, the directing-means being elongated in the same direction as the slab and of substantially equal width.

20. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a directing member having a forwardly sloping front surface and a rear surface merging glass from the accumulation with the front surface at the lower end of the member,ineans to flow a film of glass upon the upper end of the front surface and to flow a thinner film of glass upon the upper end of the rear surface.

21. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a directing member having a forwardly sloping front surface anda rear surface merging with the front surface at the lower end of the member,-1neans to flow a film of glass upon the upper end of the front surface and to flow a thinner film of glass upon the upper end of the rear surface, and means to heat the outer surfaces of the films as they flow over said member.

22. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a directing member having a forwardly sloping front surface and a rear surface merging into the front surface at the lower end of the member, means to supply a stream of glass to the upper end of the member so that the stream dividesand flows over the front and rear surfaces, the film over the front surface being gauged by gravity only, and means coacting with said member to form a slot gauging the thickness of the rear surface.

23. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, means for supplying molten glass, a member film flowing over the in position to receive glass fromsaid means and direct its flow therefrom in sheet. form andwith one face contacting only gases, and

a slab mounted beneath the delivery end of saidmember and providing a substantially horizontal glass-gauging slot between the slab and member, the slab having a surface down which the glass may flow from said slot. 24. In'app'aratus for forming sheet glass, a substantially horizontal slab, means to flow moltenglass along the upper surface and down the end of the slab, and a wedge-shaped 'slab mounted with its point downward and its upper end below and partly beneath and partly in front of the horizontal slab.

25. In apparatus for forming glassware, a member having a curved lower end, means to flow glass onto and down said member, and means to draw glass, the drawing means being so located that the glass may be drawn away from said lower end in a path which forms substantially a continuation of said lower end. 7 f V 26. In apparatus for forming glassware, a downwardly directed wedging member having its point curved towards one side, means to flow glass onto andvaround said member, and drawing means below said member and to the side towards which said point is curved. 2-7. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a directing member having downwardly converging external surfaces with its lower end 'curved toward one side, drawing means below said member and to the side towards which said lower end is curved.

28. In apparatus for forming sheet glass, a slab, means for flowing a stream of glass over and from said slab, a directing member wedge-shaped in cross-section having its point directed downward and curved towards the front and having a substantially flat upper end, means for supporting the member with the rear edge of its upper end spaced a distance from the lower side of the delivery end of said slab, and drawing means below and in front of the delivery end of said member.

In apparatus for forming glassware, a formin member having downwardly converging sides, means for flowing glass down and from said sides, and means for moving away the formed glass at an angle to the I main body of said member, the discharge end of said member being inclined from the direction of the main body towards the direction in which the glass is moved away.

30. In glass drawing apparatus, a member 5Ihaving downwardly converging side portions, means supplying the entire mass of molten glass to be drawn exclusively to the upper end of themember wherefrom said molten glass overflows down the converging i sides,.and means for drawing away-the glass formed from the overflow.

' 31. In a glass drawing apparatus, a ware forming member having a top surface and side surfaces extending down from the top surface at opposite side edges thereof, means for continuously supplying to said top surface all of the molten glass to be drawn, the glass thence flowing in opposite directions over the side edges of said top surface and down said side surfaces, and means beyond the member for'drawing away the glass thus flowed. v

32. In a glass drawing apparatus, a ware forming member havinga top surface and converging side surfaces extending down from the top surface at opposite .side edges thereof, means for continuously supplying to said top surface all of the molten glass to be drawn, the glass then flowing in opposite directions over the side edges of said top surface and down said side surfaces and in merged unitary form from the lower end of the member, and means beyond the member for drawing away said unitary form. V

33. The method of shaping glass which consists in supplying all of the glass to be shaped to the upper portion of a directing member having downwardly converging side portions at opposite sides of said top portion, causing the glass to freely flow in film form laterallyof said directing member in opposite directions from said top portion, down the converging side portions and in unitary form therefrom, and maintaining the upper and outer surface of at least one of the films free from contact with any solid while itis flowing laterally from said top portion.

34. In a glass drawing apparatus, means from which a stream of molten glass flows downward from a supply, and means for intercepting the stream after it has flowed with one surface free from contact with any solid 7 and has left said first means, and causing a dividing of the stream into laterally separated portions, said second means having op posed side portions down which said separated glass portions flow and which permit. the glass portions to pass as a single article from the lower end of the second means.

35. The method of forming continuous glassware, consisting in flowing molten glass by gravity along a directing means in a heated atmosphere, and thereafter flowing all of the glass from the directing means onto the up-' per end and in divided form downopposite sides of a dividing means and in unitary form from the lower end thereof.

36. The method of forming sheet glass, which consists in supplying an elongated mass of molten glass, flowing glass from opposite sides of said mass, first in diverging and then converging directions to form asheet, and guiding the glass during flow by contact with portions of the glass which form interior portions of the final sheet, and contacting the exterior of at least one of the diverging portions with only gases from the point where it starts to diverge to where it converges to form a sheet.

37. The method of forming sheet glass,

which consists in supplying an elongated mass of molten glass, flowing glass from opposite sides of said mass, first in diverging and then converging directions to form a sheet, and guiding the glass during flow by contact with portions of the. glass which form interior portions of the final sheet, and contacting theexterior of at least one of the diverging portions with only gases from the point where it starts to diverge to where it converges to form a sheet, and continuously adding to said mass from a source of supply of molten glass to keep said mass approximately constant.

38. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting in flowing molten glass in sheet form from a source of supply along a directing means disposed within a tempering heat, separating the sheet into laterally spaced films adjacent tothe discharge end of the directing means, subjecting the outer sides of' the films to a tempering heat, and causing the films while fluid to unite and form the opposite surfaces of the finished sheet.

39. The method of forming sheet glass, consisting of flowing molten glass from a source of supply in regulated sheet form down an inclined directing means through a heated atmosphere, separating the sheet into films before leaving the directing means with V the inner surface of the films in contact with the means then uniting the films without the discharge end of the directing means to flow therefrom in single sheet form.

40. In an apparatus for forming sheet glass, means down which molten glass may flow disposed within a heated tempering chamber, and means at the discharge end of the first means for separating the stream into laterally spaced films which merge and flow in single sheet form from the means in'the presence of heat.

41. In an apparatus for forming sheet glass, means for directing the flow of a stream of molten glass from a source of supply and from the discharge end of which the glass flows in sheet form, and means at the discharge end of the first means for causing a portion of the glass stream to pass to and along the rear side thereof and then to merge with and form the under surface of the sheet flowing from the means. 1

42. In an apparatus for forming sheet glass, a heated slab disposed within a heated atmosphere and along which glass flows in regulated sheet form, and means at the discharge end of the slab for dividing the sheet in separated films and then permitting them to merge, and flow therefrom in single sheet form. I

43. In an apparatus for forming sheet glass, means for directing the flow of a stream of glass from a source of supply and including a sheet forming slab, said slab having provision at its discharge end for causing a dividing of a stream flowing over the same i 

